Much like the rest of the competition, GWS coach Adam Kingsley says all will be revealed about his club in the next fortnight.

With two home-and-away rounds remaining before the finals, three clubs – Collingwood, Brisbane and Port Adelaide – are assured of entering the finals in the top four.

The Magpies can secure the minor premiership with a win over the second-placed Lions in Friday night’s mouth-watering clash at Marvel Stadium.

Port hold third spot after dismantling Kingsley’s Giants by 51 points in the last game of round 22, and the Power can’t slide out of the top four ahead of the finals.

“Really satisfying,” Port coach Ken Hinkley said.

“The players and the club and everyone involved with us should be really pleased with that performance thus far to get to that position.

“But we have certainly not finished, we want to keep going, we want to finish as high as we can. Our challenge is now to keep going.”

Melbourne (fourth, 56 points), Carlton (fifth, 50), St Kilda (sixth, 48), Sydney (seventh, 46) and the Western Bulldogs (eighth, 44) round out the top eight.

Then come Essendon and GWS, both on 44 points ahead of their defining Saturday twilight clash in Sydney.

“Every game from now on is an elimination final for us,” Kingsley said after the loss to Port.

“We have to win to stay in the hunt and make the eight and we will embrace that pressure.”

Asked if his side had the mettle to rise to the challenge, he said bluntly: “We will soon find out.”

Reigning premiers Geelong hold 11th spot, just two premiership points shy of the Bombers and Giants. The Cats meet the Saints in a high-stakes encounter this Saturday.

And Adelaide (12th, 40 points), Richmond (13th, 38), Fremantle (14th, 36) and Gold Coast (15th, 36) all remain finals possibles, though mainly in the mathematical realm with two rounds remaining.

Steve Larkin
(Australian Associated Press)